Can't buy independents - Bracks

It would be a mistake to try to buy the support of independent MPs to try and form a federal minority government, former Victorian premier
Steve Bracks
says.

Mr Bracks, who successfully negotiated with three independents to form a Labor minority state government in 1999, said on Monday trying to buy independents' support with special favours would be "counter productive".

"I think in the end what a regional independent is after is not a special benefit, they want a fair share and a fair share is quite different to a special benefit," Mr Bracks told ABC Radio.

"That is the chance to bid for something, the chance to represent their community's interests and I think it would be a mistake... that would be my view."

He said independents did not want to be seen as being bought.

"I remember I was told at that time during the (1999) negotiations the caretaker premier Jeff Kennett was offering some betterments to the independents, which actually turned them in our favour," Mr Bracks said.

"And I think that's probably the case here too."

Mr Bracks said it was "pretty open" as to who the three ex-National Queensland and NSW rural independent MPs would support in negotiations with the coalition and Labor for government.

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"They have this disaffection because they felt they couldn't achieve what they wanted to with the National Party," Mr Bracks said.

The Nationals felt aggrieved the independents had taken seats from them and would "do everything they can to destroy them" at the next election.

"So that will count away on the actual conservative nature of the seats, so it's probably 50-50 in that aspect, because both of those will weigh on them.

"In the end there's going to be a fair bit of trust here, trust is going to be so important. Who do the independents trust to deliver on the outcomes of stable government? That is going to be an important matter as well."